Fortaleza, Brazil
Hi travel lovers!
The following is an account of two excursions that I did with Dutch travel agent Q-International plus my trip to Beach Park when I visited my sister – who lives in a huge apartment in Fortaleza – on 19-27 February 2001. I had only booked my return flight with Q-International, without making use of the offered possibility of booking accommodation through them as well. Even so, it was no problem to go on excursions with them. The lady at the local office of Q-International in Fortaleza gave us detailed information about the excurions avalaible, where to get on the bus and how to pay for it all. Both days turned out to be great!
Brasil Fiesta Tours is the local agent of Q-International who arranges the excursions. They can give additional information on prices and the possibility of having an English speaking guide.
Their address: Av. santos Dumont 1957, Store 15, Aldeota, Fortaleza
Tel.: 00 55 85 2644138
Farm-Excursion and Cachaça-museum
Today, Thursday, we are off with Q-International. An excursion to a farm just outside of Fortaleza. The group consisted of 16 Dutch people and after three days of plodding in Portuguese this was a quite a relief.
The bus – with aircon – stands ready in front of hotel Brasil Tropical, quickly starts its engine and we turn onto the main road. There is already a lot to see on the way: the sea, the beach, shabby houses, stray cats and dogs, people with donkeys on their way to God knows where. Little fruit stalls under beautiful trees, Beetles (on 4 wheels) and green, lots of green.
After about 1.5 hours we arrive at a small country road that leads us through fruit and nut trees up to a farm. The donkey in front of the gate eats imperturbably from the rubbish while the entrance is behind made clear for us. The first thing we notice as we get off the bus is the high tank (?) next to us. Filled with snakes. We are straightaway awake and we inform ourselves thoroughly about the different kinds of constrictors and poisonous snakes, which have all been caught on the vast territory that belongs to this farm. Fortunately for the weaker hearted the menagerie has some other animals as well. Several pigs with dozens of piglets, two guinea pigs, three armadillos, geese, swans and ducks. My heart for quadrupeds and winged ones glows.
But we cannot spend the whole morning with the animals. We still have to walk and eat. So up we go to a restaurant located higher on the hill where we have been promised a barbecue. And a pool! The path that leads us up the hill gives a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains. I do not think that I ever saw such beauty and keep on taking pictures of trees, shrubs and panoramas. Also the donkey and its rider that pass us cannot escape my camera. It is enjoyment with a capital E.
Halfway our higher situated destination we reach a small shed where manually the roots of the Yuka-plant are processed to maniok-flower, a product used for the preparation of
farofa, roasted maniok-flower that forms an important staple in the north(east) of Brazil.
Once arrived at the restaurant our (English speaking) guide keeps to his word: There is a pool and the meat is already on its way to the grill. With a drink in our hand and our feet in the water it is a great place to chill.
After lunch we undertake a 30 minute walk through lots of the green surrounding the restaurant. Panoramas you can only dream about. A kip in the hammock afterwards is pure luxury.
But we still have not seen enough. Our journey leads us later on in the afternoon to the
Cachaça Museum, where they produce Brazil’s national sugarcane drink. For a long time, as the museum has quite a history which is shown and told in detail to the visitor. Of course, a sample of the brew is catered for. When the bus stops again at hotel Brasil Tropical around 6 pm, we quickly head for the seafront, where we order a well earned Caiparinha (cachaça, ice, sugar, lime) and Caiparosjka (the same, but vodka instead of cachaça).
And all this (excursion incl. lunch, English speaking guide and touring bus with aircon) for just R$58 / $29.
Mountain-excursion
Having got the taste for it now, we returned to hotel Brasil Tropical on Friday morning. For a trip to the mountains outside of Fortaleza (Serra de Baturité). That took three hours each way. Quite a journey for a one hour walk, but still worth the effort. With my walkman on and looking out of the window, I fed my ears and eyes as well on the way, so that was already enjoyment.
The beautiful flowers, shrubs, palm and banana trees and twittering birds at our destination were overwhelming. It was that beautiful in the Serra, just above the town of Baturité with all the green, splashing waterfalls and a small lake full of fish, that it let me forget the long journey. If you are offered the opportunity the climb the steep path next to the waterfall, do not be taken aback by anxious bystanders or a nervous guide. It is only a short distance, seems harder than it is and the beauty is enchanting.
Like yesterday we have been promised a lovely lunch, this time in an enormous Jesuit monastery outside Baturité. The building is old and located on top of a mountain, which caters for magnificent views in all directions. With a mysterious ambiance and serene peacefulness, you will not easily forget these surroundings. The best thing for me was the church that was part of the monastery. As a non-believer but kitsch-lover, the altar had to be photographed.
The town, Redenção, which we visited afterwards was fully prepared for (children’s) carnival. In the local gym we were the tourists to be given a demonstration of the local folk dances. The naughty faces of the children on the square did point into more exciting directions. Without being detrimental to the excellent qualities of the young dancers and the obvious joy they had whilst performing, the flower-throwing fight of the children on the street added a cheerful element. (Advice: if you want to take part in the fight, the supermarket right of the gym sells flowers in convenient bags.)
Finally we had to head back to Fortaleza and installed ourselves on our seats again for three long hours. With a Caiparosjka at sea we decided that the trip was worth the effort after all, for you see already lots on the way whilst passing through the countryside.
This excursion cost (incl. lunch, English speaking guide and bus with aircon) R$58 / $29 per person as well.
Beach Park
On Sunday the carnival had arrived big time. To avoid the masses a bit, my sister and I went to Beach Park, that is located half an hour, 45 minutes drive (with taxi mini-bus) from Fortaleza centre. A golden idea! We splashed in the water, tried the slides, floating around on inflatable tires and were seduced to ride the highest slide in the world. This slide is 41 m high, consists of a more or less free fall of 30 m and is not without reason called ‘Insano’. Although I think it is quite brave that I was insane enough to slide down on it, I will not recommend it to anybody. The smaller slides with nicely rounded turns do more for me. There we found most other people. Nevertheless, daredevils can have sufficient joy with three other more or less vertical slides.
A day out to Beach Park with the whole family does cost a fortune. We (two adults) spent
R$132 / $115, just on the entrance fee and a simple lunch. But we had a great day out – there really is enough to do for all ages and tastes. And if you take your own food & drinks, you might even buy a souvenir!
What brings us again to the end of the day, at the sea front with a Caiparinha and a Caiparosjka.
Enjoy your holidays in Fortaleza, Suzanne de Boer.
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